Cardiff were promoted to the top flight for the first time in 51 years only 12 months ago ­under Malky Mackay.

But a turbulent term has caught up with them.

It was a good day for Newcastle, though, who ended a run of six defeats – their worst in the top flight since 1986-87 – but that did nothing to ease the pressure on boss Alan Pardew.

Toon supporters chanted, “We want Pardew out’’ – and despite their side being ahead, they still booed him on the odd occasion he emerged from the bench.

On the flak he faced, the Newcastle boss said: “I’m frustrated a little bit.

“Some of the criticism has been a bit ­left-field and over the top and that has fuelled the anger here.

“But you have to accept that when you lose six games as Newcastle manager and I ­apologise to the fans for that.

“They’re obviously very angry. Coming to the sidelines, I was only antagonising them and I didn’t want to do that and make the ­atmosphere worse for the players.”

Some Geordie fans began to leave on the hour and even more made for the exits after ­69 ­minutes – a nod to 1969 when the Magpies last won a major trophy – as part of a planned ­walkout.

Pardew was back in the St James’ Park ­dugout for the first time since his seven-match ban for ­headbutting Hull’s David Meyler.

And there was an all too familiar face to greet him in Peter Kirkup, the assistant-referee who he pushed during the visit of Spurs in August 2012.

Only three minutes had gone when fans chanted for the ­manager and club owner Mike Ashley to go.

ALL OVER FABIO: dejected Fabio falls to his knees at the final whistle [PA]

“As much as we can moan about our situation, I feel for Cardiff”

Alan Pardew

And there were enthusiastic calls for ­out-of-favour Hatem Ben Arfa, who Pardew has banished from the first-team squad. However, Pardew dismissed ­reports he had been involved in a fight with Ben Arfa as “an absolute load of rubbish.’’

He added: “He came and shook my hand at the end.’’

Cardiff returned to the North East six days after losing 4-0 at relegation rivals Sunderland, knowing a win was needed to keep their ­survival hopes alive.

And former Black Cats striker Fraizer ­Campbell, who grabbed the winner here in ­January, wasted a glorious chance to open the scoring just six minutes in.